A HERRINGS Tail: Containing a Poetical fiction of divers matters worthy the reading.  
At London Printed for Matthew Lownes. 1598.   

A Herrings Tail.  
I Sing the strange adventures of the hardy Snail,  
Who durst (unlikely match) the weathercock assail:  
A bold attempt, at first by fortune flattered  
With boot, but at the last to bale abandoned.  
Help sportful Muse to tune my gander-keaking quill,  
And with ink blotles of sad merriments it fill,  
With drum of clapped wings, and with the shrilly blast  
Of his throat trumpet, Chaunticleere, now third and last,  
Had sounded a discharge unto the welkin watch,  
To leave their stand, and give their shot, and quench their match.  
And dame Aurora now faithful Ambassadresse  
Of the new borne day, and of the night's decease,  
The purple violets, and crimson roses, could  
In Paradise, had from her fragrant chaplet pulled,  
And strowde before Dan Phoebus' feet, and now 'gan he  
With peacock priding rays, th'awaked world's glee,  
To climb the Eastern hills, and with light skips to play  
Between the wrinkles of the furrow faced sea,  
When rested Lymazon, thrusteth his fenceles head  
Out at his dooreles house, and with eye measured,  
How far he climbed had, how far he had to climb,  
What guess proportion plots, to cunning toil and time:  
Where whiles he humbleth sight to the disdained ground,  
More than his hope could crave, he his atchivement found.  
But raising look again to relics of his race,  
Less than his wish would have, did his attempt embrace.  
Thus joy of what was past, and fear of what was left,  
Though wonder much it gave, despair not wholly reft.  
Sore grieves he at the pain, but more he doubts the shame:  
For unbegun then not to end, breeds meaner blame.  
What may he then resolve? retire is infamous,  
Still standing frivolous, ascending dangerous.  
So have I seen a gallant Imp, of stirring blood,  
Presuming greatest bliss, in the untried good,  
By his vain copesmates drawn, and by his promise tide,  
In quest of fleeting gain, some wooden horse to ride:  
Where while on traitor sea, and mid the mutive winds,  
His freedom thralled, health paired, and life engaged he finds,  
Not able to forego, nor to perform his task,  
What there he makes, doth with too late repentance ask:  
Yet cloak of virtue on necessity he throws,  
And rather blamed then shamed, at last he homeward goes.  
So Lymazon goes on, and climbs the haughty tower,  
Haught more then that which Caesar's ashes did embowre:  
Or those of Pharaohs, who with ambitious strife  
By their death houses deemed to overlive their life.  
This apizing in shape and hue, the spiry fire,  
Like stying doth to his like element aspire:  
And for this cause was built,  
Fame says, when Uther to the fair Igernas' bed,  
Made way on carcase of her husband slaughtered:  
She causer of the fact, not partner of the guilt,  
Washed with her tears the blood by others hand yspilt,  
And sought with price of borrowed merits to enrich  
Her either make, who did, and suffered too much:  
Tyntagill was the place where she exchanged loves,  
Tyntagill was the place where to both their behoves  
She rears a stately house, which lowly Munks may haunt  
For their soul's requiem, sad spells to chat and chant:  
Whose Cells environed a temple rare of frame,  
For substance rare, more rare for form that decked the same:  
But rarest for the steeple, which with wonder rose  
In that huge temples waste, and wonder overgrowes:  
The foot whose large assize this Giant body bare,  
Were squarie faced stones, with sides outlayed square,  
Marble the stones, the sides, rule (king of measure) skand,  
Three hundred broad to stretch, high fifty foot to stand:  
Within a labyrinth of wenlace thwarting ways,  
By searchers errors blazed the Craftmans' ready praise:  
Such one he once devised to hide a hateful Love,  
Whose unflidge bird did skills flight by falling prove:  
And such one made the first and great'st Plantagenet,  
His world's rose, but rose unclean, there safe to set,  
Unhappy spur to draw, unhappy clew to sow,  
Beloved's death, the wives revenge, and husband's woe.  
But what Daedale began, and Harrie followed,  
Art and experience here past mendment perfected.  
This platforms shoulders underwent th'abating weight  
Of Porphirie Pyramids, which told in height  
Three hundred halves of feet, and halved that at base,  
Their number five, and Quiveunx wise they stood in place.  
At point, each broached a beguiled ropper mound,  
All which a Petasus of fine Electre crowned,  
Whose edgeyfrendged rang with silver bells about,  
Charm taught the wind, wind them, and the shaven rout,  
When Dorter loath to leave, when people loathed choir,  
Thereon up second climbeth a four taled spire,  
Fine score the foot did score along their jasper side,  
Their tops of polished Gait, a table paved wide:  
So our Deawes-sonne sometimes an hold most circle makes,  
Now lines in angles sharp, now in obtuse he brakes:  
There true love knots he twines, here paints some flowers or tree,  
Uncouth the shapes, but bootfull to his bent they be.  
The Circles to compass, the Angles up to get,  
The knots to bind, the trees and flowers a grace to set,  
And where so Art, or fortune taught, or brought his ways,  
Auernishon his footsteps smooth and bright he lays:  
Smooth as the path, which under walking fingers yields,  
And twixt two hillocks leads unto th' Elician fields,  
Bright as the worm, whose tail the high ways side bestarres,  
And on the helm for Canuisado serves in wars:  
And now by scale he shortened had the steep ascent,  
And with glad eye laid holdfast on the battlement:  
When Alectravemos from battlement espied  
Another steeple cleaving to that steeples side,  
Which strange Geometry, follies Imp, wonder bred:  
Wonder, by reason the strangeness examined;  
If life it had, where is the shape that bodies bear?  
If life it lacked, so far, so high, how stuck it there?  
If somewhat else it brought, where was the bringer gone?  
If self it came, where were the feet it went upon?  
If walled house, how it to move so could he see?  
If move it did, a walled house how could it be?  
Yet it a life enjoyed, and life a body clad,  
And body feet possessed, and feet were skilled to gad:  
And all this had a house, and house all this did hold,  
And both did move, and both were moved, as shall be told.  
When Saturn by revenge (whereto even nature's kind  
Bindeth what so she breeds) did overtaken find  
His never turning course of unkind cruelty,  
And headlong tumbled from that godlike sovereignty:  
Whose frail foundation on wickedness was pight,  
Disliked, withstood, fought with, vanquished, chased to flight,  
An old man by a young, a father by his son,  
A King by his subject, he all forlorn did won:  
Sometimes on mountains rough, sometimes on surging waves,  
Sometimes in forests wild, sometimes in hollow causes,  
Of safety as unsure, as sure of misery,  
Still doubting lest his very hides would him descry,  
The hills by their rising, by their roaring the floods,  
The vaults by echoing, by whispering the woods:  
Amongst those refuges, silly refuges sought,  
Fortune or fate at last to the Snails house him brought.  
That time all Snails alike rom'd naked limed abroad,  
Nor partial weight did more the tone than other load.  
But as the Lion hath his den, his comb the Bee,  
The Fox his cabin, Coney berry, Squirrel tree,  
Antony's hill, Hare form, Rat nest, and hole the petty Mouse:  
So had each wandering Snail his unremoving house.  
Now Saturn led by fear, which nearly prieth, crept  
Close into one of these, and out the owner kept:  
Himself a tyrant, forced by a more tyrant, need,  
Ne false, though strange, let pausing credit deem this deed.  
For if great Gods with shapes of men themselves have clothed,  
Nor form of beasts (thralled to sinful lusts) have loathed:  
Why would they not assoon? why might they not aswell?  
Their lithy bodies bound with limits of a shell?  
Now when time (Lord of change) had reconcilement wrought  
Betwixt the sire and son, and jove, home Saturn brought:  
He, though constrained courtesy, yearn slight reward,  
Yet what befitted him to yield, did more regard,  
Then what the other ought receive: and so he gave  
What ever bootfull boon the Snail best like to crave.  
Even as a ship whom divers winds and billows sway  
From side to side, and too much driving force to stay:  
So his desire by divers tides of shocking thought,  
Tossed here and there, unsettled long resolved on nought,  
Till him discourse informed that every perfect good,  
Waters his neighbour fields with his wealbearing flood:  
And that none ill there grows whose branches venomous,  
Disperse not wide their leaves and shade infectious:  
Wherefore to take the good and to forsake the ill,  
He choice made to exchange his neighbour head at will,  
And still to bear, and still to use his shellie cave  
For house, for fort, for clothes, for bed, and for his grave.  
Saturn assents, the Charter tailed is in fee,  
And all house Snails from him derive their pedigree:  
So wedded he his house, and so he crawls and clings,  
And t' Alectravemos' nearer defiance brings.  
Who of his steale-step march hath still a fresh avize,  
To his ripening knowledge conveyed by his eyes:  
They show him first a hill, or fort, or tower, or all,  
Or like to all, built of a thin strong cloamy wall:  
Not Samian clay (potters chief pride) can match with this,  
Nor seen through Porcelaine that so long tempering is:  
His form a winding round proffering easy ascent,  
Decreasing in his growth and in a point yspent.  
Such Babel was, if painters (poets kin) do right,  
Save Babel ceased at halves, this vaunts a perfect plight:  
A compass vaulted Arch at foot wide income yields,  
Keysars model t'engraue on like their bloody fields:  
His colour Iris like, but as with storm defaced,  
Or th'early morning grey: but as with cloud disgraced,  
And still as more he looked, more cause of fear he took,  
And as he feared more, that caused him more to look,  
Till the less distance scope at full gave to his sight,  
And showed a whole with borrowed remnants many dight,  
A libbard's face, a Panther's neck, belly of Toad,  
Snakes skin, a Tortoise tail, a Camels back with load,  
No feet, yet skill to stalk, no claws yet power to hold,  
No blood but in his am a liquid Crystal cold:  
I quake to speak, yet speak I must of each his horn,  
Th'offensive armour of a double Unicorn,  
Strait as two lances couched by Orped Knight in rest,  
Pliant as sinewy arm of wrestler nimbellest,  
Out with uprising pride by stolen degrees they grow,  
And in retire with speed, if cause occasion show:  
Even as the heele-bite Serpent darteth forth his spear,  
Which on his point doth sting, venom, and murder bear,  
And in with spoils it plucks, but this works feller harm:  
For Serpent threats with hiss, no warning here doth arm.  
Yet natures wise foresight, (foresight wisely ordains)  
Though power to hurt she give, with bails that power restrains:  
So Wolf the least stone dreads, the Oliphant the Mouse,  
And by Cocks crowing dared the Lion flies the house:  
So testy stinging Drane but once can wreak his spite,  
So Viper's wife, his head their brood her belly bite.  
And so in either lance Dame natures kind remorse,  
With a mourn head temps their else all slaying force:  
Yet as her marshal Imp not in full feature borne,  
Or as the truncheons left, the rest to shivers torn,  
Or as the menace of a new supply at hand,  
Two young grown staves at foot with heads out peering stand:  
So strangie sight just wonder breeds and wonder doubt,  
And doubt assembles of sad fears an ugly rout:  
Who saulting Alectravemos sought, but in vain,  
To force him cut with fethrie shears the sky curtain:  
For he was to that service bound in prentisage  
For many years, thus wise by Merlin oversage.  
far hence away in country of the cloudy skies,  
A dungeon deep and large beset with hills there lies,  
Where blustering winds and shipwreck storms a boisterous throng,  
With bolts on locks, & bars on bolts, in prison strong  
Are fast upclosde, they struggling wrestle, hiss and rote,  
And rage on rage, by exercise encreasen more,  
Contending forth to break that empiring alone,  
New Chaosde heaven and earth they may confound in one.  
But AEolus aloft with threatening mace restrains  
Their fury, and in bonds within bounds them contains.  
There is his realm and reign, there doth his palace stand,  
And those mouths breath or blow, as his mouth list command.  
It fortuned this band was sent abroad to chase  
The fogs, and dust to sweep, from old earth's rugged face:  
Who, as they tennisde up and down with skittish play,  
And in this neither air to make new clouds assay,  
Sly Merlin comes the while, and spying Elpie tide,  
Snatched up and hid this bird, and away with him hide:  
And hither he him brought, and on the spire him set,  
And by his mighty charms bound him in endless det,  
With true measured crowing, the timely hours to speak,  
And still against his windy fire to wind his beak:  
All other weathercocks that can but creak and hiss,  
Are counterfeits of this, and counterfeits to this.  
But whence he came, and why him AEole did avow,  
Listen my Lordings gent, and I shall tell you how.  
As long, as sore King AEole Deiopeia loved,  
soreness the length increased, the length the soreness proved.  
This, sundry means out sought, in sundry shows expressed,  
All meeting in one end to have his grief redressed.  
Sometimes with stillie breath he whispered in her eat,  
And mixed sighs did both message and witness bear:  
Sometimes in Lays he sung, whistled and pipte his woe,  
Which proving vain, he in a rage would storm and blow.  
But strait repentance should them melt in showery tears,  
And he lie still as dead, and buried in despairs,  
Oft adding deeds to words when she list take the air,  
He would his lodging take in her recrispled hair,  
And lovely hedged in by that gold wyrie frith,  
Though bound himself, yet fast and lose he played therewith.  
Oft would he stealing kiss her equal blessed lips,  
Oft in her sweeter bosom throw sweet flowers slips,  
And oft her tucked weed above her knee he bore,  
To true heart, false to love, that might, and durst no more:  
But undefiled, though touched, she Cupid's shafts did ward  
With shield of chastity, Dymond as fair so hard:  
juno, great heavens Queen, in their demeanour red,  
This courting and coyness, and therefore promised  
If he the Troyans' wrack, her jointer would consent,  
One Hymens knot should make her willing him content:  
But though her Mistress, Queen and Goddess juno wear,  
Yet to Diana's hests she greater awe did bear,  
And mover of those broils, herself unmoved stood.  
When AEole seeing all those ills work little good,  
His suit not heard, or not conceived, his gifts refused,  
Or little reakt, his service scorned, or not used,  
He casts about another course of policy:  
A yoke of peacocks native tired gorgeously  
Did junos' chariot draw, and Deiopeia stood  
Charged to eat them charily, dry, and liquid food:  
Ambrosia was their meat, and Nectar was their drink,  
In ivory troughs upheaped, and filled to the brink.  
Now fortune (lovers friend) so guided AEolus,  
That one of those he got, and gave to Zephyrus  
Sweet breathed Zephyrus, who (Psyche like) away  
With bloomie gale him bare, and in sure guard did lay,  
A lowly vale, Tempe yclept, in Greece there lies,  
Twixt Ossa and Olympus hills, which stately rise,  
And with their beetle brows that far prospect deny,  
Which their avoiding sides proffer the roving eye:  
All in a vesture of green grass appareled,  
With guard of roses and sweet flowers embroidered,  
And entersowed trees (like ouches) yield a grace,  
Whose waste the climbing ivy and woodbine embrace:  
But they scorn proffered love, and without spreaded arms  
Protect the nursling herbs from Phoebus' fiery harms:  
Upon their fingers perch the bushy burgesses,  
A little choir, but well their tune they couth express,  
And in consorting lays with sweet according note,  
The God of nature's praise they carolled by rote.  
The croaking Rau'n from his hoarse throat the base out fetched,  
And clime-skie Lark aloft unto the treble stretched:  
The quierman Thrush aloud the counter-tenor rang,  
And falling sickly Quail next ground the tenor sang,  
Cuckoo the burden bare, Nightingale deskanted,  
Kind Robin warbelled, the Thrustle whistled:  
Low under these so peopled tops protection,  
Springs here and there out sprout, and downwards trickling run,  
Springs fair to sight, pleasant for taste, pleasing of sound,  
In feeling cool, and in their savour fragrant found,  
Who where they after other each to bottom fall,  
Peneus river make, that nameless drowns them all:  
He this new tribute bears to the grand tyrant Sea,  
Yet dreading like success long loiters by the way,  
And seems with turning course to seek his spring again,  
And fretting gnaws the bank that would his bent restrain:  
The whiles one late come wave the other driveth on,  
Whose mate like fast him shooves, till all unwares be gone.  
In fine, hills, Vale, Trees, Springs, and Brook ambitiously,  
Nature pranked with pomp for triumph of the eye:  
After long easy flight, Dan Zephyrus his load  
Softly disburdened, and here it safely stood,  
And Boreas had charge (fit jailor for a rape)  
With eye to watch, with blast to stop his sought escape.  
When thus the Peacock was dispatched, AEole gins  
To cleave his feet in claws, to stalks to sharp his shins,  
His body he contrived, his neck he lengthened,  
Pinions he made his arms, with horn he beaked his head,  
His clothes to feathers waxed, his crown a copped crest,  
His starry mantle served his crupper to revest.  
In sum, the means unseen, the cause and end well known,  
He that erst seemed a God, was now a Peacock grown,  
And with his fellow joined, and so himself did bear:  
Untold, you would have sworn that he a Peacock wear.  
No marvel then if Deiopey for such him took,  
When she (mistrustless) entered to her charge to look:  
Then had the Sun that Zenith climbed strife to decide,  
Just arbiter between the morn and even tied,  
And truly noble in most height appeared least,  
When heat and weariness invite the Nymph to rest:  
And down she lay, her mother earth became her bed,  
And brother stone did serve as pillow for her head,  
So to death's harbinger she doth her recommend,  
Who first her senses lodged and fancies them uppend:  
Soon to the Peacock god his two spies can relate,  
Th'advantage proffered of her dead living state:  
Which hastily he seized, and with steps nicely bend,  
And panting breath, and longing sighs, impatient  
Of all delay, guided by hope, he to her drew:  
(Hope which most doubt in most assurance doth imbew)  
Even at the joyous entry gate amazement yet,  
Arrests his foot, and forced him pay the eye his debt,  
Who this model of beauty curiously surveyed,  
Where nature all her art, art her wit displayed.  
But neither can I tell, ne can I stay to tell,  
This palace architecture, where perfections dwell:  
Who list such know, let him Muses despencier reed,  
Or thee, whom England sole did since the Conquest breed,  
To conquer ignorance, Sidney like whom indite,  
Even Plato would, as jove (they say) like Plato write:  
Her sun bright lustre dazzled so his gazing eye,  
That it must other senses crave in aid, to try  
Where she a living wight, or marble Image were:  
What dost thou AEolus? to what end cam'st thou there?  
Now, or never, and never but now take thy hap,  
And ever if now, Love will dandle thee in lap.  
But warning none I need to give the hind-bald time,  
Better than I he witted, and caught in chiefest prime:  
Full like a hardy knight upon her swift he leapt,  
And with love pressing weight, her from arising kept,  
With billing from crying, with comforting from fear,  
With hugging from struggling, from ill taking with prayer.  
What more they did, and how they 'greed on the scot,  
Speak you, such smell-feast guests, myself I wot it not:  
Yet this I know, what was beside her will begun,  
And 'gainst her will doing, with her good will was done:  
And she that down a maid her laid, a woman rose,  
Ne Phoebe (who with changeles change still pairs or grows)  
Had more than thrice three times borrowed her brother's light  
To fill her crooked horns, (wan pilots of the night)  
When as Lucynas' travail her unwitting caught,  
And hatching for childing, an egg to th'world she brought,  
Which egg disclosed a chick in his due worn time,  
Which chick grew to a bird, which bird begat this time.  
Strange this may seem, yet true, and reason natural  
(Oft afterborne) avows such chances may befall:  
For to such work their parts both male and female bring,  
The stronger body gives the weaker fostering.  
Then might th'assaulting bird, the limbs suit to his kind,  
And the weak suffering Nymph, the feeding humour find:  
So in her lap, suspectless Leda (false beguiled)  
Cherished a Swan, who made her twinning egg with child.  
This bird now waxing flidge, big as the Eagle grew,  
His neck with collar decked of purest golden hue,  
A purple rob his body clad, pranked was his train  
With intermingled quills of the celestial grain:  
Fair starched ruffs attired his sight alluring face,  
His head a copped coronet did comely grace:  
But my pale quill dreads to approach the quelling blows  
Of that sharp fight, which twixt these champions inward grows.  
Help warlike Muse my words to marshal in such sort,  
That they this worthy act may worthily report.  
The field the steeple top, the lists the steep downfall,  
Wind was the Trumpeter, and honour the Marshal,  
Ambition and Envy, on the assailants side,  
On the defendants, parraines came, disdain and pride:  
The equal judges chosne by both fortune and fate,  
But sticklers none, for who durst venture there his pate?  
Some soul was looker one, who stood still in amaze,  
Or seemed still to stand, delighted with the gaze.  
Th'assailants house-shield for defence him best did arm,  
And the defendants sword bill served him best to harm,  
Yet the defence, means to offend, did also lend,  
And the offence, supplied withal, means to defend,  
Swift move, but not remove could Alectravemos,  
Slow paced was Lymazon, but where he list he goes,  
And for him nature did in less assize contrive,  
He caused supplying art to follow, not to strive  
With nature, whiles not forth direct his march he takes,  
But a wide winding circuit of his way he makes:  
Much like the rolling trench by soldiers hand upcasted,  
When he approacheth his foe's fort more sure then fast,  
And in his motion continued but slowly,  
His eye did guide his pace, his judgement led his eye,  
With distance still betwixt them both proportioned,  
To what so he attempts or th'other offered:  
But Alectravemos of stature great and tall,  
Greater in might, and in stout heart greatest of all,  
Stands with his trenchant felling bill lifted on high,  
The ruin threatening point bend to his enemy,  
As planted canon 'gainst a wall priest to begin,  
A battered breach where troops of wounds may enter in.  
Thus his advantage each and disadvantage witted,  
And how to offer harm, and how harm to resist  
In both, skill courage led, and courage armed skill,  
So as not rashness ventured force, nor fear abated will,  
Both hardy as the best by disposition,  
Both hazardous as most by their election,  
Both confident as those who loss did never know,  
Respectful both, as knowing well the force of foe,  
Who saw the one would think nought could gainsay his might,  
Who other marked would marvel any living wight  
Durst hopeless him assault, thus minded, armed thus,  
They brought virtue compared victory to discuss.  
But as the wind which faintly breathes twixt leaves at furst,  
Soon after grown in force gins the boughs to burst,  
Then pulls up trees by th'roots, and houses throweth down,  
Till in tempest at sea himself at last he drown.  
So these brave champions did at their first approach,  
Their fiery courages as 'twere but wake and broach:  
Which joined, begat a combat fit all minds to fear,  
That of self constant worthiness not privy wear:  
And though amazement seld with reason march we see,  
Reason found reason yet amazed here to be:  
For Mars his sportles game was never better played,  
Fury in braver show never itself displayed:  
Yet them dread farthest flies, as peril fastest grows,  
Like glowworms light which nearer brought the lesser shows.  
Thus lavish blows they deal, of which each foremost strived  
To run, postilion of death each seemed arrived,  
More thick they fall then hail that ears and stalks of corn  
Frusheth, and makes hinds harvest hope forlorn,  
More heavy seem then thumping engine that down beats  
The plumped piles, which serve for wayfare bridges seats,  
More loud they sound, then at the forge in smoky cave  
Did vulcan's sledge, when battered gads to plates in drove,  
That at his courteous wife's request an armour bright,  
He then eke courteous shape for AEneas might:  
But as the twinny Themis and arm of Ocean flood  
Single, rush forth, and kill, and bury, if withstood:  
Yet where they meet, and (cousins) kindly should embrace,  
They struggle, hiss, and foam, and each would other chase,  
That equal balanced long the bastard brackish wave,  
Doubts whither name of salt or fresh o'ercome to have.  
So here forcible skill with counterchange matched,  
Such skilful force, and masters both, so perfectly were red,  
In distance, time, and motion, school-points of fence,  
That as the minds like Monarches, with due diligence  
Had their directions in every part obeyed,  
So could no other mind with right judgement areade:  
Which order, sense, virtue, that warded, or assailed,  
Precise, ready, able, most of them both prevailed.  
If th'one possessed a watchful eye and marched apace,  
Steady, and lance in rest, had couched priest for chase,  
And all bit of respect and courage spur did guide,  
Like dreadful might came daring on the other side:  
Yet even that might his nimbleness in might did pass,  
And nimbler than that nimbleness his judgement was,  
In both attempting and preventing seemed foremost,  
Alike, and th'answer to th'objection road in post:  
Th'assailants fence stood most on the defencive shift,  
Who under his embossed targe, retiring swift,  
Did part escape, part ward his adversaries blows,  
Which to attend, more fond, than shame to shun he knows:  
Yet as at high racked rent he farmed had the soil,  
No foot would he surrender, nor one step recoil,  
But with compassing fetch, of fetching a compass,  
Occasion watched, vantages favour to purchase,  
And liurie of conquest to have, much like the hound  
Which singled Stag at bay, doth here and there around,  
And like self Stag seeks Alectravemos again,  
With one blow full set home, to stint his further pain  
And tother's life: but many looseth the mean time:  
For though the sparks, or rather Lamps, to heaven up clime  
From those fierce dints, which fall as fast as thrashers flail  
On the submitted sheaf, yet they no more prevail,  
Then washfoote wave can move the weather scorning rock,  
Or tower deep grounded reaks, the winds loud bragging shock.  
So chieftain, that t'assiedge some town doth undertake,  
Whose site the wall, and wall turn serving flankers make  
Impregnable, now saults the gates, and now some tower  
Battreth, here proffers scale, there luggage in doth power  
To glut the gaping dikes, yet vain proves each pretence,  
And lost are men, cost, time, pains, hope and patience:  
Nor Fortunes blind eyed smile did more the valour bless,  
Of steale-step Lymazon, with hopes heir child success:  
For if his armed masts seemed iron horned Ram,  
Whose shouldered thrusts at one point leveled, dram by dram,  
The mortar maride stones, either dissolve or break,  
That ruins gate, many unknown, unwelcome freak,  
May in admit, the tother's feather quilted jack,  
No less seemed 'gainst this, at new door knocking wrack,  
A woolsack roped down, which yielding doth resist,  
And deads' death headed blows that him unfriendly kissed.  
Each one hath seen a brinded Mastiff at the stake  
The Bull to bait, divers a galley undertake  
A tall ship to assault, some the Swordfish alone  
To set on the huge Whale: but seen have few or none  
The Bull to bait the Dog, Hulk Galley to assail,  
Whale his armed foe onset: yet here without fail  
Like chance was seen, and yet not like in all they squared,  
For here the cows son with the whelpsires growth compared,  
Less showed the brush o'er barge in bigness vantage wan,  
On ship and Swordfish stature past Leviathan.  
In brief, as far as gold exceeds all baggage pelf,  
So all else came behind to match this save itself.  
Thus these, who as the Globe is modelled in a heart,  
Had Globe of valour in their heart, as in a chart  
Comprised, with equal envied puissance lengthened,  
The still straightening battle, and they that combated  
With anger first, self combat now more angereth,  
And fight desire, as desire fight engendereth,  
If shame disdain provoked, oft for revenge to strike,  
Revenge as oft reviv'd, disdain to quite with like,  
Taking and doing both, gave and received pain,  
Doing and taking both wan and retained gain,  
Strokes still are heaped on strokes, as fuel put to flame  
Embodies more and more, what will devour the same:  
Hate bellows was that blue, courage fire that was blown,  
Courage to wrath increased, wrath was to fury grown:  
So from self-love vainglory did itself divorce,  
Whilst smart waited on blows, as blows waited on force:  
So cuff is quit with cuff, strooken they strike again,  
And beaten beat, so bashed at self worth they remain.  
Thrice Alectravemos forced Lymazon recoil,  
As far from his rash hope, as near least feared foil:  
Such thundering, lightning bolts thick thick on him he lays,  
That garland he despairs of the protecting bays:  
Yet each repulse he ransomed with a fresh attempt,  
And new won honour did late infamy exempt,  
As oft did Lymazon tothers hot courage calm,  
That Cypress branch he nearer seemed to wear then Palm.  
Their eager gripping thus long made them nought to strain,  
And in assays to do, times glass ran out in vain,  
Whilst self assays more than performance wearied,  
And yet self weariness as long dissembled.  
At last weakness in both to such strong mastery grows,  
That as saint drops after fierce storm appeerd their blows:  
And schoolmistress of fools, costly experience  
Them taught, that virtue nor fortune award sentence.  
For either list or witted so consenting dissent,  
Vncoupled their buckling and they asunder went,  
Asunder went, but as the bow which yields a space  
To the withdrawing string, that his forsaken place  
Regaind again, he may th'entrusted shaft out let,  
With derner maim and winged tail in heart's blood wet,  
Or as two princes of the rich arrayed flock,  
Whose armed sconces (engines of battery) entershock,  
With backing pace, but threatfull looks not lose, but leave  
The conquered soil, that short rest, long delay may reave:  
Nor sloth this space devoured, but each turned this while  
Practic to specklative, and noting well the style  
Of either's fight, their weapons use, their vantages,  
Meant in one total sum to pay th'arrearages.  
And scarce they paused had, when with wrath sparkling eyes,  
Revengeful hearts, and courage resolute, each hies  
To the renewed combat: yet had the sense combined  
Of seeing schooled them so, and feeling disciplined,  
That in repeating their but lately cond lesson,  
Respect and doubt conjoined made the construction.  
A great desire to overcome did each possess,  
But how to overcome the cark was no whit less:  
And they who galloped to an end yet stayed again,  
That end by best way of advantage to attain:  
For strong assault as strong defence behoves repel,  
Lest haste to speed banished due care how to speed well.  
But who attends each benefit that time brings forth,  
(Lingering) shall hardly ought perform that is of worth,  
And of th'assailants part, slowness of victory,  
On posteth overthrow: wherefore less warily,  
And with more hazard, Lymazon in fight was driven  
To win or lose, and not to hold the bargain even.  
Who whilst he thus appealed to fortune from foresight,  
'mongst many idle strokes of foes rove aiming might,  
One from his crested Targe did on his shoulder glance,  
(Quite destitute of faithful armours purveyance)  
And piercing through his dapple pelt itself fleshed,  
And that it did but glance, fair was the Snail blessed.  
For had it bitten home, that blow had quit the strife,  
And judged the victory, and damned th'assailants life:  
Like as the prisond spring, which searching spade lets out  
From the earth buried vain, soon, fast, and far doth sprout:  
So here from th'opened vain spouts forth a crystal blood,  
Whose trickles wept (as rain in Sun) a pearly flood,  
Dismayed, and near discomfited, in Lymazon retired,  
And chafed, and hist, and foamed, as water underfirde  
Up flames, and boils, and casteth froth, and oreboord throws  
Part of the fraught, to quench the storm, nor all to lose.  
On th'other side, his foe flaunting in jollity,  
Loud Lopeian sings of near gripped victory.  
But pride (ruins forerunner) warns, when boot is hext,  
By fortunes constant inconstance, than bale is next:  
For whilst with feathers brushed up, and stretched out neck,  
And wings displayed, he sought in mate to end his check:  
Lymazon off had shaked fears apprehension,  
And judgement in him stablished resolution:  
So as the sparks of his quenched courage quicker grew,  
As stirred wine, new settled, wonts more strength accrue:  
Wherefore with spite and rage, his bloodless veins filling,  
And to one moment's service, his sprights conjuring  
A horned push, with force by fury crest he drives,  
Whose dint with fury seconded by force arrives  
At the unplated side, and through the silken skin  
Part gored, part bruised, the guard betrayed flesh within.  
But when both thus in blood were enter entered,  
And it (allied) their arms with medley garnished,  
Which paled and blushed in one, so weak defence to make,  
Then, as the trodden Snake, or hurt Lion, for wreck  
They thirsted more, than that whole floods of blood the same  
Can quench: and though self blood did accusation frame,  
And wounds to witness called of their distressed state,  
Yet either choler rest the smart or it relate,  
To the fierce mind the fainting sense lacked hardiness,  
At least no one their action would it confess,  
Passion from stern of skill then reason should aside,  
And storm of fury raised, and fury force supplied:  
Defences are forgot, dangers despised, disdained  
Is hope itself, and even most assurance rained:  
In rash wanhope rage strokes begat, strokes rage increased,  
Each stroke did wound, each wound did threat to slay at least.  
But this last act seemed sole some dying candles blaze,  
Or random shot which wall would pierce, but cannot crase:  
For each to other due exchange so long had paid,  
That small the remnants fell, and mind in vain assayed:  
When strength was vanquished, and nimbleness was fled,  
(Forsaken general) to make new stand or head,  
Appearance guess informed, each prester seemed to die  
Accompanied, then either live to victory.  
Yet Lymazon▪ this vantage had, or thought to have,  
Latest of both (though soon) to step into the grave:  
For though most store of strokes the game dealt to his share,  
Wounds Alectravemos away the sorer bare:  
Whence he faint, weary, recreant, abandoned  
Of breath, of limbs, of heart, of help, with reak raised  
And dropping tail, and drooping cheer (craven) bewrayed,  
To yield he not so much refused as delayed.  
Which other spying well, hotly pursues his point,  
And each proffered resistance, chaps off joint by joint,  
Threatening, insisting, striking, wounding, reveling,  
Till meek disarmed stillness proclaimed his conquering:  
Then clibbie ladder 'gainst his battered flank hereares,  
And up it him, and he it up, slow scaling bears.  
For as the Roman Tyrant, who would feast his cruel eye  
With torture of his state-suspected enemy,  
The hangman bade so strike as he might feel his death,  
Such wise here Lymazon with tedious steps climbeth,  
That he the sweetness of his victory, and foe,  
Might full and longer last his bitter overthrow:  
Thear'st never tamed back, new horseman he bestrides,  
Whence not so pleased, up his avaling neck he rides,  
And there enthroanes himself, on his comb cutted crown  
Triumphant wise, and with forced weight it presseth down.  
His now all needles and near empty hacked shield  
From shoulder back he throws, and out doth mustering yield:  
His full grown statute, high his head, looks higher rise,  
His perching horns are reamed a yard beyond assize,  
Then with a stately gate his eyes far journey room,  
And to his mind of fair prospects bring tidings home.  
They see the water beurage give to the dry land,  
And land to water seat supply with quitting hand,  
Without channel or bank, both lovely enterlaste,  
Earth borne by th'Ocean, Ocean by the earth embraced.  
They see the earth somewhere to swollen mountains up blown,  
somewhere leveled to plains, somewhere to vales down thrown:  
The mountains lofty heads with bushy locks curled,  
The plains gowned with grass, valleys with herbs purled:  
They see the forests thick by savedge beasts possessed,  
cattle people the fields, incomes the vermin nest,  
And over all, as Lord of all, they see mankind  
Forgetful of his heavenly part, to clay combined:  
They see old folk knock with their staff at gate of grave,  
But though forward their pace, froward their face they have:  
They see young folk dancing a round to pipe of time,  
Whiles at their back steals in the just reward of crime,  
And with his dart strikes one, he falls, the other fear  
And stand a space amazed: some out the carcase bear,  
And they begin a fresh, and so continue on,  
Till one by one thus fetched, the dancers all be gone:  
They see wives snarling at their too fast coupled fear,  
And hindering their own course by haling still a rear:  
Maids, pitfalls of their mouths, lures of their looks to make,  
And of their tresses grins, long billing birds to take:  
They see th'ambitious then Tantalus more vain,  
Contentment shove away, and catch thereat again,  
And on self entrails gnaw: they see the envious  
More cruel, than Ioues Eagle was to Titius:  
Gluttons with their own hands their own throat bowl to cut,  
And covetous for sin their corpse to penance put.  
Of the contentious, some they so frantic see,  
That souls they venture to damning, if killed they be,  
Necks to the rope their house to wrack, if foe they kill,  
Whom dead redeem with kissetaile price they gladly will.  
Others of like angry, but not so hardy heart,  
Bequeath to folly of their will so large a part,  
That rather than at home with equal neighbour bear,  
Abroad the'●le rove, and ride, and toil, and toss and tear,  
And gild with guilt some puppet raked from channel so,  
That this late worshipped Idol shall them overthrow▪  
Courtiers (faure decked sepulchres) he sees to spread  
About their Sovereign's a net, that covered,  
Their vanities may seem: but fishers it they cast  
From their full stored sea, to draw some gain at last.  
Gentry he sees (like hosts) their houses gay dress,  
Which (they too kind swept out) Usurers may possess▪  
Wan scholars eating paper, drinking ink, which they  
Like Bees digested up, in others bosom lay.  
Farmers, distrusting God, each season chronicle,  
(As nature doted) for an uncouth miracle.  
Townsmen, consulting how they may the upland expel,  
And living private on their own, in the air dwell.  
Artificers, their wit's prentice to falsehood bind,  
Mariners to a feast the fiends bid all a-row:  
Which ended, the poor scraps out to the saints they throw.  
Lastly, he sees Hunters cancel their books of count,  
Because th'expenses their receipts so far surmount:  
Falconers, a purse of coin (too late repentant) send  
About their Hawks necks tied, to an unknown friend:  
Gamesters, through greediness undone, through fury drawn,  
By oaths (nor ease, nor remedy) lay souls to pawn.  
But he that thus surveyed with controlling eye  
Each others actions abroad, could not espy  
His own at home by far more vain, who left his bower,  
His blessed bower, unblist himself, to scale this tower:  
For where, prince of his will, he in the garden rained,  
And senses him delights his senses entertained,  
Whilst curious eye made choice for his as dainty nose,  
Of purple robed Violet, of blushing Rose,  
Of snow white Flower-de-luce, of golden marigold,  
Or rather marry-Sunne, and nose the place did hold,  
Of taster for his mouth, of cheer heart Rosemary,  
Dear Time, drowsy Lettuce, and maiden Peony,  
And morning dew, sweat of the precious stars, he drank,  
And through the shady green leaved arbours jetted crank.  
All this seemed nought, for he was nought, and with straight mind  
Not so his own good joyed, as at others repined:  
For seeing Alectravemos vanced so high,  
A Burgess him he deemed of the imperial sky;  
His glittering vesture pure gold he imagineth,  
Imagines fond, for all not gold that glistereth:  
And at direction of his crowing, him doth seem  
Mankind his actions, the Sun to guide his team,  
Then pleader his desire, from judge affection,  
By witness of supposal, soon hath sentence won,  
That so great happiness out sole to be possessed  
By the great worthiness, that sole did him revest:  
Which both united would so rare effects beget,  
As world on wonder might, and heavens on envy set:  
Then should equality plot down the lists of time,  
And neither Phoebus chair so high the welkin clime,  
As with rays perpendicular the earth to scorch,  
And lend rest night to courtaile, ne his forceles torch  
Of heat in the Ocean be quenched over soon,  
Or darkness posting steps tread on the skirts of noon:  
Then should not men in open light those pranks commit,  
Which even blind night would grieve to see, as never fit,  
Nor any slurging waste in drowsy bed the day,  
Nor wear out hours of quiet at unruly play.  
Thus on the sandy ground of vain conceit beguiled,  
Frame of a common weal reformed, his fancies build.  
But as the malcontented subjects, grieved long,  
As much with graced new favourites, as their own wrong,  
By the unlawful means of joint rebellion,  
Seem lawful end to seek of reformation:  
But if the left side balance chance the right to overway,  
And they prevail, their vizard soon aside they lay:  
The erst but ragged state, is then in pieces rend,  
And each to turn the dear bought victory is bend  
To his best profit: so, when fortunes blast filling  
The sails, did ship of his attempt to haven bring  
Of his desires, pretended good he than forgets  
Of others, and mind on his own he wholly sets,  
How he may surest 'stablish his new conquered realm,  
How of his glory farthest to derive the stream:  
But if he sifting thus each shift his wits refined,  
There were against his drifts no less that counterminde.  
For when the god of puffs, great master of the air,  
Saw the base Snail, of his sons spoils, a Trophy rear;  
Choler inflamed his heart, revenge tickled his fist,  
Disdain wrinkled his face, to smile of little list:  
And up his throat bowl stairs climbed words of threatening,  
Which to effects of deeds thus wise he sought to bring:  
Post through his large Dominions are writs out sent,  
To warn his windy vassals to a parliament:  
So, whizzing, blustering, peeping, whisking there came in,  
First lithy Eurus with his parchie rivild skin:  
Next Boreas armed in ice, weaponed with shot of hail,  
Then Zephurus, his rob purffled, with flowers entrail:  
And Auster last with dropping beard and misty head,  
Dukes of great power, whom their retinue followed,  
And with low beysance to their prince in his vast hall,  
Some on his right hand, some on left themselves they stall:  
AEole sits in the midst, and with dread grace holdeth  
His toothed mace, a treble death which menaceth:  
Not Atlas mount, whose feet press down the fiends of hell,  
And head piercing the clouds, supports the Angel's cell,  
More lofty shows, his stature such, such is his state,  
His sparkling eyes, blazons like Comets, which relate  
To mankind dismal news, his voice like bull that tells  
His late gores smart with bellow, and bootless yels:  
And thus through anger bitten lips his words he threw,  
The whiles they turning mouths to ears attentive grew:  
Oh you great children of the greatest heavenly fire,  
Called to possess your birthright by your drawing site:  
But back repulsed by middle brother of the air,  
And with his thwarted side bard of near repair,  
Whom wails wandering thus, and to and fro tossed,  
I gathered, stablished, and with just laws ordered,  
And of each quarter of the world great Lords you made,  
Which with your swarmie Colonies out sent you shade,  
And since oft checks of jove I bear with patiented mind,  
And pikes with fellow gods, and curses of mankind,  
For slipping rains to your ill used liberty:  
Lo now for these large benefits so liberally  
Bestowed, one boon, one sole requital I require,  
Your King it craves, who may command, stoops to desire:  
My child, my dearest child, my child of heavenly seed,  
My glorious vaunt, my hopes rare fruit, my travails meed,  
Set on, fought with, wounded, (O hard success) subdued,  
Helpless, and near lifeless, lies in his blood imbrued,  
Whose hurts my wounds eke are, and who him conquered,  
On me, your king, a god, so great god triumphed.  
Revenge, revenge you then the sons foul injury,  
The father's bitter grief, and our bothes infamy:  
Or if (unkind) my quarrel to revenge you slack,  
See and revenge at least your own heel treading wrack:  
For who will you regard, if you remain unknown?  
Who can you strangers know, if first you be not shown?  
Who will? who dares? who can you show? if thus wise rest,  
Your judex vnrelieued, and unrevengde be left:  
Then shall the jolly Mariner, his vows due price  
Returned, pay you no more with offered sacrifice:  
Then the prescribing steale-toll Miller never shall  
Wait on you with his linen wings and wheeling wall,  
Nor ever shall just peized swimmers of the air,  
Of your great force unwilling witness ravished bear:  
But either you I know not, or I know full well,  
Nor so small reak, nor so base thoughts in you to dwell:  
You that your mother Earth's void womb revisiting,  
And there 'gainst kind forclosde, bouncing, and rumbelling  
For issue, so her vaulted entrails toss and tear,  
That she new childing groans with pain, and quakes for fear:  
You that from under Thetis feet the mite uprake,  
And therewith smear her face, and for your pastime sake,  
To low depressed vales, and high stirring mountains,  
Neighbours of heaven and hell, transform her watery plains:  
You that from coast to coast the clouds do hold in chase,  
Till melting down in tears, conquered they yield you place:  
Can you endure a creature of th'inferior sort,  
Void of discourse, a worm of so unworthy port,  
As neither stature, beauty, strength, nor ought beside,  
Can by pretence of seeming cause abet his pride,  
Your prince's son, your foster-brother dare deprive  
Of honour, state and life, and with you counterstrive?  
Nay first let heaven and earth perish confused in one,  
Ere least jot minisht taint your reputation.  
But why with needle's words your needful deeds stop I?  
My trusty mates, my only power, my chief rely:  
Go you, go soon, go fast, in bud this mischief quail,  
Ere he of settling time do you of speed prevail.  
To quench this kindled fire, use force, use policy:  
Let valour be your god, fortune and destiny.  
From the usurped height him thrust and tumble down,  
Let shame his onset let, let fame your atchieement crown.  
These makebate breathes brooked not the patience to attend,  
Until his tale were closed in a perfect end:  
But from the folkmote rushed to broil the sky, and band  
Sharpe fight against the great Realms both of sea and land,  
And with weightier effect t'accomplish their pretence,  
By set accord they feign a jarring difference,  
And ranked in facing troops they entershock amain,  
Like stalworth Knights whose justs fair Ladies entertain:  
But more impetuous were their brunts, which coupling wild  
So rough a storm begat, as winter never child.  
Like foul brought fourth, the altered heavens were overlaid  
With mourning black, as in their limits should be played  
A tragedy, for which a stage they 'gan prepare,  
And wherein they a part (too nighly-bowred) bare,  
For with the thunders roar they cracking seemed to rip,  
And burn with lightning flashes, which confusely skip.  
But price and wager sole of their contention,  
And nave where their spokes fury met was Lymazon,  
Of him they sore disdain, themselves despised to see,  
'Gainst him their threats, their blows, their hurts all bended be:  
So whilst in sea of bliss he sailed all aflaunt,  
Of his good fortune proud, of his fate ignorant,  
He sooner found himself in danger priest to sink,  
Then the tempest foresee, or change he could bethink:  
Whence though of courage no such share he did possess,  
But he some inward touch felt of dismaiednes:  
Yet neither were his coward sprights depressed so,  
But that he shamed his port should it too fully show,  
And feign he would in equal poise of judgement rest,  
As one that could despise the worst, yet hoped the best:  
But hope was wan, and countenance vain, where earth and sky  
Against his state, seemed linked in conspiracy:  
For in th'ascendent balance Mars was faring back,  
And Lady Venus' detriment did threaten wrack:  
Eke Saturn his ruler falling in house of foes,  
Against his vassals good did his dire beams oppose,  
And th'earth quaking nodded with second ruin spire,  
To throw him headlong down, if he would not retire,  
Whom winds no way to scape, nor power to stay afford,  
But him on foreship, quarter, stern (the while) aboard  
Both voore and Auft do lay, so in pell-mell to ruze,  
And though his steps (like Lympet touched) he faster gives,  
Yet him so long assail, so oft they do surround,  
That out at last a chink to enter in they found.  
Like as the rain enriched flood, which tumbling low  
From the high mountains, menaceth to overflow  
The fruitful plains, and make the farthest sea his goal,  
If the blind pioneer, or fostered rat, some hole  
Him wimble through, then forced bank, the same doth ream  
To such a gaping gap, that at his mouth the stream  
Out belks with rushing noise, till every furrow float,  
And husbandman to lost pains tunes a plainfull note:  
Or as long delved oak, whose undermined root  
Doth purchase heavens sight, with many knocks to boot,  
If once to shoulders shog he yield, is loosed more  
And more, till on the bruised earth his length he score:  
So this small entrance won, the winds wedge wise in drive  
Their blasts, and stitch by stitch his clibbie belly rive:  
From the unloosed hold thus looseth he his place,  
And leaves the empty room a witness of his case:  
Then down he falls, like shellfish up by Eagle borne,  
That from the greater height he may the more be torn:  
Then down he falls like dart from th'Eagles masters hand,  
Whose fiery wings bears vengeance to th'offending land,  
And with him fall his envy hate and surquedry,  
His hopes, his plots, his pranks, his joy and jollity.  
But who did fix a nail in Fortune's rolling wheel,  
Whereon he headlong down past help began to reel,  
And how he saved the game, thus driven to his trumps,  
Let others write, my pen is worn to the stumps.  
FINIS.